John Jefferson
Left: Emmanuel Thomas Dennis (Fayette County District Attorney’s Office). Right: The apartment complex where Dennis allegedly beat his fiancee’s 2-year-old daughter to death (Google Maps).
A 33-year-old man in Pennsylvania has been accused of killing his fiancee’s 2-year-old daughter, allegedly beating the child to death and refusing to let her mother seek medical assistance. Emmanuel Thomas Dennis was taken into custody on Tuesday and charged with one count each of criminal homicide, aggravated assault, and endangering the welfare of a child in the brutal death of young Margaret Nunn, authorities announced.
Fayette County Coroner Dr. Bob Baker stated that his office was called to Uniontown Hospital at about 12:05 p.m. on Monday in regards to the death of a 2-year-old girl, later identified as Margaret. She was declared dead at the hospital
According to a news release from the Fayette County District Attorney’s Office, following a preliminary investigation into the incident, it was determined that Margaret died as a result of “serious physical abuse at the hands of the Defendant.”
A probable cause affidavit obtained by Pittsburgh CBS affiliate KDKA provided additional details about the allegations against Dennis.
According to the report, troopers with the Pennsylvania State Police on Monday afternoon responded to an apartment complex in the 300 block of Village of Searights in Uniontown after being contacted by emergency medical personnel who were treating an unresponsive 2-year-old at one of the apartments. The complex is just over 300 miles northwest of Philadelphia.
Margaret was initially discovered lying face down with what appeared to be dried vomit around her mouth, The Herald-Standard reported. She also appeared to be covered in bruises and scratches.
During an interview with investigators, Dennis, who said he was engaged to Margaret’s mother, reportedly admitted that he had been physically abusing Margaret, complaining to detectives that the toddler was in the throes of the “terrible twos.” He specifically stated that he kicked Margaret across an upstairs hallway, per the Herald-Standard.
Dennis also claimed that Margaret had fallen at least six times over the weekend and struck her head.
A particularly bizarre detail about the interview stuck out to investigators, who reportedly noted that throughout their conversation with Dennis, he repeatedly referred to Margaret simply as “it.”
Margaret’s mother reportedly told police that she had personally witnessed Dennis physically abusing Margaret over the previous four days. In one instance, she said he dragged the girl to her room by her arm and repeatedly hit her until she lost consciousness. The mother said she advocated for taking Margaret to the hospital, but Dennis refused to let her because he was afraid her condition would lead to an investigation by Children and Youth Services.
Dennis was booked into the Fayette County Jail where he is being held without bond. He is currently scheduled to appear in court for a preliminary hearing on Nov. 5.
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